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“Business is being a lot more proactive and vocal about social issues and having a voice in the conversation, whether that be CEOs or employees — around why this is important and what businesses should be doing to further the causes in these social issues.”
The jury is in: diversity not only makes sense for moral reasons, it also has tangible benefits for any business organisation trying to thrive in the modern business landscape. According to a 2018 study by the Business Consulting Group, companies with “above-average diversity” on their management teams generated 19% more revenue due to innovation.
Meanwhile, a 2019 article from the Wall Street Journal found a direct link between diversity, inclusion and overall performance by looking at S&P 500 companies.
It is in this context that Cori Drogemuller, Head of Communications at Cisco Australia and New Zealand talks about embedding inclusiveness in communication strategy, and how communications can promote diversity and inclusion in any organisation.
Speaking in 2021’s Corporate Comms Leaders Summit, Cori said “there have been significant social movements in the last few years, which has created unrest but also opportunities for inclusion as well.”
Seminal movements like #BlackLivesMatter, #MeToo and the marriage equality movement have indeed disrupted how modern society operates. However, it has created an opportunity for the most forward-thinking companies to demonstrate how inclusiveness and diversity can only improve an organisation’s outcomes.
Cisco, being a multinational company with 77,000 employees from 95 countries, makes for a great case study on the effects of encouraging diversity in a company, and an excellent template for organisations of all sizes to follow.
Central to Cisco’s efforts to encourage diversity is cultivating what Cori refers to as a conscious culture. This framework involves having the environment, the characteristics, and the experience coming together to create a conscious culture.
“The environment, which is an inclusive and diverse environment, is the foundation for any thriving culture. The characteristics are modelled by the company’s beliefs, behaviours, rituals, and principles. And experience, what you show up to when you go to work, in your leader and your board or team,” Cori said.
Get full access to Cori Drogemuller’s session recorded during the 6th Corporate Comms Leader Summit here.
